Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks made to operate within narrow aisles. Typical storage aisles are 3.6 meters wide, sufficient space for a counterbalanced lift truck to turn within the aisle. Nonetheless, narrow aisles can be 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow space requires specific kinds of lift trucks which are small, capable of tight turns, could put away loads without pivoting. The popular types of narrow-aisle trucks are reach trucks, turret trucks and orderpickers.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
Reach trucks were the first narrow-aisle lift truck to be manufactured for warehouse use. These small trucks could turn without difficulty in narrow aisles since their design has eliminated the requirement for a huge counterweight. Stability is instead provided by outrigger arms which extend in front of the truck. The disadvantage of this particular design is that the outrigger arms can inhibit access to the storage rack since the truck cannot get close enough. These trucks really work well within a warehouse which is well lit, has clean, even floors, enough space for turning and good flow of traffic.
Turret trucks
The design of a turret truck has turning forks on side of the truck. The forks turn 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load faces forward while the operator drives down the aisle. When stopped at the designated storage location, the forks of the truck pivot to the storage side and lift the load to their full extension, and then easily deposit the load prior to resuming their original position. Turret trucks could come with a wire guidance system which keeps the truck on its path in very narrow aisles. In man-down trucks, operators remain at floor level.